I got my broker's license at the 3 year +/-  . . . but not intending to open a shop. I worked for a broker 250 mi away w 10 offices. He was great when I could get an audience with him, but I knew I needed more empowerment for those times I couldn't just snag him. After another year, it dawned on me that I could answer my own questions with the help of ARS and Commissioner's Rules . . . and so Next Wave was hatched from yet another cosmic imagining.  LOL
Carmen has worked for me for 15 years and could have been a broker many times over. She doesn't care to, because she has me on speed dial. 

I studied pretty much from the time I got my agents license, and took the test at 3 years, the first opportunity they would let me. I did this for two reasons: I just felt I did not know enough with just the agents stuff (it took me just 10 days of studying for that one and take the test). Have been a broker since 2009 in California and 2013 in Hawaii (the first I could get my license there), and love it.

Not until I planned to open my own office.  

I waited a while.

I'm in the process of getting mine.  Sent the forms in to the state on Monday.  I started the education process as soon as my length of service requirements were met.  Should get a test date sometime next month.

mine is from 1978 and everyone could be a broker.... 

Most realtors I know who start the career with a broker license. It did not then need the work experience just needing a degree. Most broker associates I know are not in real estate industry anymore. One is selling cellphone, solar panels and one sells home made sauce at farmers market. They are happier. The owner is always scratching his head worrying about how he is going to pay the office rent, and color toners, getting letters from BRE.

It was 20 ft away from me 12 years ago. Today I will not touch it with a 120 ft totem poll.  Lots of rocks to them.

Roger has a Broker's License, and he waited 8 years before he got this, though in the meantime, took other classes with other designations after his name, i.e., GRI, SFR, SRES.  I do not have mine, as I'm still a fairly new Realtor Nathan Gesner. 

I guess it depends on what suits you most.  I personally would wait.  I think experience speaks louder than passing any exams in this business.  I've come across quite a few brokers in the Dallas area who didn't really know what they are doing.  They just simply passed the exam.  It's good publicity to have a broker license and if you want to open a shop and sponsor agents to get monthly desk fee.  There are brokers that I know who had only done a handful of  transactions in their entire lives.  (One broker has only sold one home).  They usually sponsor agents and charge a low fee.  So that's another business model since they are likely to attract experienced agents who don't need much help but just need a broker to hang their license.  The agents benefit as well with low fees.  There are TONS of brokers here, in fact, too many.  Almost everyday I received an email to recruit. 

First possible chance, I believe it was 1 or 2 years.

I have all the broker exam materials on my shelf. I waited 15 years, then when I began and learned about the "risk vs. reward" for what I was planning to do, I canceled it. The liability in CA is too high to not use it on a large team or office. I preferred to open my own office with BBR as my broker. They allowed the satellite office and take on the risk.

In Illinois had my licese for 3 yeas before taking the brokers exam. I was exempt from claasroom onxe I passed the BAR. In Florida never intended to get a broker's license until I was drafted for managment. It was about 3 years!

As soon as I was eligible.

First second available

I've been in the business since 1999 and never pursued a broker's license.

I did not upgrade right away, was not ready. Even after all the classroom hours I still waited to take the test (had two years to do it), but finally did it. Still worked as Associate Broker for a while before establishing my own firm.

Nathan Gesner I got my broker's license as soon as I was eligible. Back then (1990) an agent had to have five years of experience to be eligible to take the test and get a broker's license.

At that time there was only classroom study available. The five broker modules were spread out over a six month period.

I began with a Broker License that I obtained while still in law school.

I jumped way ahead to knock it out & did tests. BRE wouldnt let me pre-pay

The moment I could, I did! I'm an education-a-holic so, of course, I was an easy sell to get it done right out of the gate!

Waiting, possilby forever, though in Colorado I've already had a broker license from day 1 since that's how we roll. I could upgrade to my "Independent Broker" license at the end of December as they only require two years of time under an employing broker, but I won't at this time.

(1) Why give up all the access to knowledge and training and support?

(2) CO requires that independent brokers have a publicly-accessible office and I don't want my home office to be that and will not pay for a storefront office I won't use. So this alone will probably keep my license hanging at someone else's outfit for the foreseeable future unless CO changes that little requirement.  

I got my broker's license about 6 months after I became eligible. I did not have it on my agenda but did it because several other agents in the office were getting theirs.

In Oregon every brand new licensee is a Broker - has been that way since 2001. I became a Principal Broker at the first opportunity which was 3 years after getting my Broker's license. 

That was my original plan until I found out that KW allows us to basically operate our own business and let them handle the brokerage side.

No real reason to go through the extra paperwork as long as KW handles this for me.

I waited a long while and idn't do it until I wanted to be my own broker.

Yes

yes

We did after the 3 years full time sales period, but chose not to open our own store.  Happy to pay the split that includes a great bricks and mortar location, designated broker and managing broker, team leader, all the staff, all for less than $1800 per month - which is collected as revenue arrives - not "up front".

  5 years in.  I wasn't going to get the Broker license until I would open my own office.  But the State of Florida announced stricter requirements (a whole lot more classroom hours); I wanted to get grandfathered in, so I took the course and got the license.

Interesting answers to this question.  Each one could be a post.

No not really as was licensed in 1987.  I think I got my brokers license in 2002/3 and we opened our own company in 2006.

After I got my broker license I started my own small brokerage and ran it for a good number of years. After a while I noticed that offers written by agents in a certain large brokerage in my city were well-written, smart offers. The agents were well trained and easy to work with. I closed my small brokerage and set up a team within that larger brokerage. Best decision I could have made.

I am not a broker.

Wow, that is great question and something to learn from the answers. 

Still waiting, Nathan.

I waited way to long.  I would say do it sooner and later.

The year after I got into real estate, the Broker license was mandatory.

First possible chance

No I didn't upgrade at the first possible chance.

I took my brokers test 1 year after getting licensed which is what is allowable here in NH. 

Back in the day I could have initially applied for a Broker license. I waited a few years then went for it.  It took me 9 years before I went independent. 

I'm still waiting.

I got mine about four years in, 2 years after I could sit for it. It was while I was getting my GRI and the guy sitting next to me was studying for his Brokers test. I joked with him I could get mine before he could and...we’ll i did. after I got it I went back to my office, where just about everyone in the office had their Brokers license, and told my PB. He kind of stammered a moment, said “You did...? That’s great. Can you help me sync my calendar on my new iPad Air?” I left his brokerage two weeks later 

ASAP at the 2 years experience requirement in Florida. I have always done my own thing. I owned an auto glass business at age 25 and had never installed a glass before (had experienced glass installer working for me, but I owned the business). So at the first opportunity I got my broker's license and have my own brokerage. 

I have always had a broker's license for decades. And in any event, North Carolina is an all broker state now, so you must have a broker's license... and earn it within two years of getting licensed as a provisional broker. The mandate to be a full broker has nothing to do in NC with whether or not you plan to open your own office. Personally, I also have a broker-in-charge license.

I do not have a broker license

I waited about four years before I studied for/applied for my broker license. I am not an independent broker though.

I opened my office within 2 months

I went for my broker's license about 2 years after getting my Realtor's license.

Exactly 2 years in, the amount of time required in Idaho, John and I both got our Broker licenses. -Kasey

I waited several years Nathan Gesner .

I was about to take a broker license( got all requirements) but decided i do not need it yet.